Now, if you’re reading this today, you probably still have some workloads that won’t upgrade before the deadline. The good news is that we have options to keep you protected and putting you on a path to modernize your infrastructure and apps.

Let’s look at these options.

Extended Security Updates keys are available from Azure portal

For apps and services that need to run on-premises on Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2, Extended Security Updates can be purchased under eligible programs. Please visit our site for the most up to date information including our frequently asked questions.

We recently published this Tech Community blog on the steps to purchase, install, and activate Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 extended security updates keys. If you’re unsure whether your servers are ready to receive extended security updates and like to test, refer to KB4528069 for Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, and KB4528081 for Windows Server 2008 SP2.

Additionally today, we are sharing that you can now join a preview of extended security updates (in the Azure portal), which will allow you to obtain eligible unlock keys from the Azure portal. To get started, go to extended security updates for Windows Server in the Azure portal. Please visit tech docs for detailed documentation. 

Migrate to Azure and upgrade when you are ready

Azure offers one of the most effective ways that gives you more time to modernize. Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 Virtual Machines (VMs) on Azure get 3 years of free Extended Security Updates, giving you the opportunity to invest more time towards modernizing your app stack while staying secured.

With the Azure hybrid benefit you can save 40 percent off the total cost of a virtual machine. Combining the Azure Hybrid Benefit with Azure Reserved Virtual Machine Instances, you can realize up to 80 percent savings on the total cost of a VM. Azure hybrid benefit works for both Azure Virtual Machines and Azure Dedicated Host.

To get started and assess your app dependencies such as on domain controllers use Azure Migrate. It is a free and agentless tool to discover on-premises servers, assess dependencies, and migrate apps to Azure.

It’s critical to choose the right path for the right Server Role. We’ve laid out the options for you here, and for more detailed reading, check out the Windows Server migration guide.

Secondly, evaluate your migration options based on your business requirements. Azure offers several lift and shift options. Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 apps can be migrated to any of the following options and then, upgrade to Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2016.

• Migrate to Azure Virtual Machines
• Run Windows Server hosted on VMware natively in Azure using Azure VMWare Solutions
• For those of you who require dedicated compute due to compliance requirements, take advantage of Azure Dedicated Host

Now, most of our customers are running lift-and-shift Windows Server 2008/R2 migrations and app modernization efforts in parallel. Apps and services that lend themselves to quick modernization can take advantage of services such as App Service and Azure Kubernetes Service, which supports Windows Server containers. Please note Windows containers are available in versions Windows Server 2016 onwards. App Service works great for web apps written in .NET Framework and .NET Core as well as other frameworks such as Node.js, Java, PHP, Ruby, and Python. For modernizing with containers, Azure Kubernetes Service can help to easily deploy and manage those apps.

And finally, to help you with this transition to the cloud, we launched the Azure Migration Program, which offers step-by-step guidance for migration. This program was created in collaboration with well-known and trusted partners and service providers, each of whom has a deep understanding of Windows Server.

Now, let’s look at the scenario where you need to run Windows Server apps and services on-premises.

Upgrade on-premises

Over the past year, we launched the most innovative version of Windows Server yet, with Windows Server 2019. For workloads that you know will stay on-premises Windows Server 2019 offers the latest advances in security such as Advanced Thread Protection to detect attacks and zero-day exploits and Defender Exploit Guard to help combat ransomware attacks. Windows Server 2019 with several built-in hybrid features such as Storage Migration Service and Azure Network Adapter. This ensures that your apps, services, and data are all secured and ready for a move to Azure whenever you’re ready.

For modern apps, Windows Server 2019 offers improved app compatibility for containers and support for Kubernetes. Learn more about Windows container in our documentation.

On-premises, you can also take advantage of Windows Admin Center, a modern server management tool to manage Windows Server environments. Windows Admin Center offers connections to Azure services for Backup, and Disaster Recovery. Check out the Windows Admin Center tech docs to get started today.

And finally, for those of you using Azure already, the newly announced Azure Arc can centrally manage servers on Azure and on-premises.

More resources

Here are some learning path presentations to help you get started:

• Migrating to Windows Server 2019
• Top 5 new features in Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server Hybrid – Azure Arc
• Migrating Windows Server to Azure IaaS – Network and Storage
• Using Existing Windows Server licenses on Azure using Azure Hybrid Benefit

Finally, join us in the Windows Server Tech Community to keep up to date with experts around the world, and stay tuned for the next Windows Server Summit to learn more about the latest innovations. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

The post Protect workloads still running on Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 appeared first on Microsoft Windows Server Blog.

This month, SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 reached their end of support. On January 14, 2020, Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 will also reach their end of support. These important dates provide an opportunity for businesses outside of the obvious deadline, and we’re here to help. Here is a list of resources to help you get ready:

• For the latest information about your options, visit the Windows Server 2008/R2 end of support site to learn about upgrading on-premises, migrating to Azure, or taking advantage of Extended Security Updates for your server environment.
• Download the Migration Guide for Windows Server for beginning-to-end guidance for on-premises or cloud workloads, including Assess, Migrate, Optimize, as well as Manage and Secure phases, with more links to tools that can help you along the way.
• If you have questions about what Azure can do for your Windows Server workloads, or are ready to start down the migration path, visit the Azure Migration Center to find specific migration advice for Windows Server 2008/R2 and start modernizing with Azure.
• We have a new migration tool to help you upgrade old file servers. Watch a brief demo of the Storage Migration Service, a new tool to help migrate file servers from Windows Server 2008/R2 (and even back to 2003) to newer versions, running on-premises or in Azure.
• Finally, watch my on-demand webinar on Transforming Windows Server 2008 Apps and Infrastructure where I lay out options on how to modernize your Windows Server 2008 environment using Microsoft’s hybrid cloud capabilities, including new tools and solutions available to help you migrate.

Ask the experts!

If you still have questions, we’ve scheduled an online Ask Me Anything on July 30, 2019. Bring your questions, and we’ll have our top experts standing by ready to help. Add it to your calendar now.

The post Six months left to transform your Windows Server 2008 apps and infrastructure appeared first on Microsoft Windows Server Blog.

Don’t let the name fool you. Azure Site Recovery (ASR) can be used as an Azure migration tool for 30 days at no charge. It has been used for years to support migration of our 64-bit versions of Windows Server, and we are pleased to announce it now supports migration of Windows Server 2008 32-bit applications to Azure Virtual Machines.

This is good news for organizations that wish to take advantage of the new 2008 End of Support option to get three additional years of Extended Security Updates for free in Azure. The 2008 and 2008 R2 versions of Windows Server will reach End of Support on January 14, 2020. But customers who migrate these versions to Azure Virtual Machines will continue to get free security updates until January 2023. This buys customers more time to upgrade or modernize, while starting to gain the benefits of cloud.

Did you know that if you have Software Assurance, you can use existing Windows Server licenses to save on Azure? In fact, if you are using the Datacenter edition of Windows Server on-premises, you can keep it running on-premises and save on Azure Virtual Machines at the same time. Find more details on our Azure Hybrid Benefit web page.

With the end of support for Windows Server 2008 in January 2020 fast approaching, now is a great time to begin modernizing your applications and infrastructure with the power of Azure. For more information about migration with Azure Site Recovery or other great tools from our partners, check out the Azure Migration Center.

The post Use Azure Site Recovery to migrate Windows Server 2008 before End of Support appeared first on Microsoft Windows Server Blog.

January 14, 2020, as you may know, marks the end of Extended Support for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2. End of support means the end of regular security updates, potentially leaving you vulnerable to security and compliance issues. Planning and executing an upgrade can take some time, so we recommend starting now.

This week, Takeshi Numoto, Corporate Vice President of Cloud + Enterprise, blogged about new options to help keep your workloads safe after the deadline. Two new options help you protect server workloads if you are not able to upgrade to the latest operating system before the deadline:

1. Migrate your Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 workloads to Azure Virtual Machines and receive free Extended Security Updates until January 2023. With Windows Server on Azure, you can migrate your skills as easily as your workloads.
2. Purchase Extended Security Updates for on-premises servers running Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 and continue protection for up to three years. It’s a great option to keep server workloads protected while you upgrade.

Find all the details you need in this end-of-support blog post.

The post Get answers to “Now what?” for Windows Server 2008 end of support appeared first on Microsoft Windows Server Blog.

The good news is, you still have plenty of time and options to avoid any heartburn caused by the technology “circle of life.” We’ll lay out all of those options for you in a webinar on July 12, 2018.

In this webinar, you’ll learn about:

• Options to migrate to Azure
• Ways to upgrade on-premises
• The range of resources available to help, no matter which path you choose

We want this transition to be as seamless and pain-free as possible for you. Register now and find out all the ways we’ve come up with to make that happen.

The post It’s sunset time for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 appeared first on Microsoft Windows Server Blog.

Updated September 11, 2018: I’m pleased to announce that the monthly rollup for Windows Server 2008 SP2 is now available:

• Monthly Rollup Windows Server 2008 SP2, see KB 4458010.
• Security Only Windows Server 2008 SP2, see KB 4457984.

I recommend you bookmark KB 4343218 for details on the latest monthly releases.

Updated August 31, 2018: To help ensure a quality release, we will now start the rollup model on Update Tuesday in September, also known as “Patch Tuesday,” which is the second Tuesday of the month.

Updated August 17, 2018: To help ensure a quality release, the initial preview of the monthly quality rollup will be released on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

We are moving to a rollup model for Windows Server 2008 SP2. The initial preview of the monthly quality rollup will be released on Tuesday, August 21, 2018.

Windows Server 2008 SP2 will now follow a similar update servicing model as later Windows versions, bringing a more consistent and simplified servicing experience. For those of you who manage Windows updates within your organization, it’s important that you understand the choices that will be available.

Let’s review what we will release each month following the initial preview of the monthly quality rollup release in August:

A security only quality update: Starting September 2018, this security only update will be released on Update Tuesday, commonly referred to as “Patch Tuesday”, the second Tuesday of the month.

A security monthly quality rollup: Starting September 2018, this monthly rollup will be released on Update Tuesday, also known as “Patch Tuesday”, the second Tuesday of the month.

A preview of the monthly quality rollup: Starting August 2018, the preview rollup will be released on the third Tuesday of the month.

For more details, please refer to the Windows for IT Pros blog.

Internet Explorer updates

• The monthly rollups will contain fixes for the Internet Explorer version 9 for Windows Server 2008 SP2. The security only, monthly rollup, and preview rollup will not install or upgrade to a version of Internet Explorer if not already present.

.NET Framework monthly rollup

• For more information on the changes to .NET Framework updates, please see the blog post .NET Framework Monthly Rollups Explained.

These changes will simplify the updating of Windows Server 2008 SP2 computers, while also improving scanning and installation times, and providing flexibility depending on how you typically manage Windows updates today.

The post Windows Server 2008 SP2 servicing changes appeared first on Microsoft Windows Server Blog.

EMC has announced support for the Server Message Block 3.0 protocol in their VNX and VNXe product lines and published a brief paper entitled, “EMC VNX and VNXe with Microsoft SMB 3.0 – The best of NAS and SAN without compromise.”  It’s a great read.

In it, they highlight the benefits of SMB 3.0 and how storage that uses it can offer the performance and capabilities comparable to traditional SAN storage.  With solutions based on SMB 3.0 you can avoid the costs of Fibre Channel implementations.

The paper also highlights how SMB 3.0 is the future of storage protocols – providing the performance and availability customers need to move mission-critical workloads to network-attached storage platforms based on SMB 3.0.

EMC and Microsoft are performing regular interoperability tests, so you can confidently deploy EMC VNX and VNXe products in a Windows Server 2012 environment. These EMC products are compatible with the SMB 3.0 functionality provided by Windows Server file servers with transparent failover that we discussed in a previous post.

Microsoft is committed to helping customers reduce the costs of storage while managing data efficiently.  SMB 3.0 is an example of how we’re delivering on the commitment and helping to build an ecosystem of storage solutions.

You can read more technical information about our storage capabilities at Jose Barreto’s storage blog on TechNet.  You can also explore SMB 3.0 and many other storage capabilities hands-on by downloading the Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview here – which will become generally available October 18.

The post EMC Support for the SMB 3.0 Protocol – the Future of Storage Protocols appeared first on Microsoft Windows Server Blog.

If you’re interested in learning how Microsoft technologies work—for example, Windows Server, Exchange Server, Windows Azure, and SharePoint Server 2013—this is the Windows Store app for you.

Enjoy! Kevin

Hi, we’re Martin McClean and Brian Lich from the Windows Server Information Experience team.

Server Posterpedia is a Windows Store app designed for Windows 8 and Windows RT that brings graphical content together with content from TechNet and MSDN. It enables you to learn about Microsoft technologies by providing deep links to Microsoft content from within a Windows Store app. Today we’re pleased to announce that Server Posterpedia v2 is available in the Windows Store. The following features are available in version 2:

• Image hotspots that allow you to get content specific to a part of the poster (new).
• Semantic zoom that enables easy navigation of the different groups (new).
• A full-screen viewing mode without the chrome and hotspots (new).
• The ability to share a link to a poster through email (new).
• App bar buttons specific to each poster.
• Technical content for Hyper-V, Active Directory, Remote Desktop Services, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2007, SharePoint Server 2010, Windows Azure, SQL Server, Lync Server 2010, and Office 2013.

Server Posterpedia is updated frequently with new content, so be sure to download any app updates when you’re notified.

If you’re running Windows 8, you can get this app from the Windows Store:
https://aka.ms/sposterpedia

If you’re not running Windows 8 yet, check out this video that illustrates the app’s features and functionality:
https://aka.ms/sposterpediavid

The post Server Posterpedia v2 available in the Windows Store! appeared first on Microsoft Windows Server Blog.

The post Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 – Now Available! appeared first on Microsoft Windows Server Blog.

AD FS 2.0 is a role in Windows Server that simplifies access and single sign-on to both on-premises and cloud-based applications.  Using “claims-based” identity technology, it helps enable secure business collaboration and productivity within the enterprise, across organizations, and on the Web.  (We also released Forefront Protection 2010 for SharePoint today, and published some high-level recommendations around ensuring more secure collaboration.)

Some of the top scenarios AD FS 2.0 will support are:

1. Collaboration with Office documents and SharePoint across companies with single sign-on access.

2. Single sign-on access to hosted/cloud services, extended from on-premises Active Directory to Microsoft (or other) cloud services.

3. Implementation of access security and management policies to many different applications with varied security requirements.

Overall, AD FS 2.0 will help you streamline user access management with a simpler, unified approach and native single sign-on. It builds on AD and interoperates with other directories via WS* and SAML support, too.

And, because it provides a single user access model that can be applied again and again, AD FS 2.0 also helps provide better, more consistent application security.  It puts access control decisions where they should be:  In the hands of IT.

The AD FS 2.0 planning and deployment guide is here .

The post Available now: Active Directory Federation Services 2.0 appeared first on Microsoft Windows Server Blog.